News from March 2023


“CALIFORNIA'S WATER CRISIS” published by the Congressional Record in the House section on March 22

“CALIFORNIA'S WATER CRISIS“ was published in the House section on pages H1320-H1323 on March 22


DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OBTAINS CONSENT ORDER, US VIRGIN ISLANDS SUPERMARKET CHAIN MUST PAY $240K IN BACK WAGES, DAMAGES TO 33 UNDERPAID WORKERS

News Release: ST. THOMAS, VI - El Departamento de Trabajo ha obtenido una sentencia por consentimiento que requiere que cuatro supermercados de las Islas Vírgenes de EE. UU. y su propietario y ex administrador paguen a 33 trabajadores (incluidos los conserjes, guardias de seguridad y personal de reposición) $240,000 ...


Department of Labor obtains consent order, US Virgin Islands supermarket chain must pay $240K in back wages, damages to 33 underpaid workers

News Release: ST. THOMAS, VI - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment that requires four U.S. Virgin Islands supermarkets, and their owner and former operations manager to pay 33 workers - including janitors, security guards and stock people - $240,000 in back wages and liquidated damages after an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found the employer denied them overtime wages.


Court requires Austin auto dealership to pay $15K in damages to employee fired in 2020 after raising COVID-19 safety concerns

News Release: AUSTIN, TX - When an employee of a luxury auto dealership in Austin learned a co-worker had tested positive for COVID-19 in December 2020, they alerted the company’s management and requested they notify other employees immediately of their exposure risk.


US Department of Labor recovers $259K from South Carolina manufacturer who denied 939 workers legally earned overtime

News Release: Employers:. Jadex Inc., 1303 S. Batesville Road, Greer, SC 29650. Alltrista Plastics LLC, 1303 S. Batesville Road, Greer, SC 29650. ArtaZn LLC, 2500 Old Stage Road, Tusculum, TN 37745. LifeMade Products LLC, 1303 S. Batesville Road, Greer, SC 29650. Shakespeare Co. LLC, 6111 Shakespeare Road, Columbia, ...



Court requires Austin auto dealership to pay $15K in damages to employee fired in 2020 after raising COVID-19 safety concerns

News Release: AUSTIN, TX - When an employee of a luxury auto dealership in Austin learned a co-worker had tested positive for COVID-19 in December 2020, they alerted the company’s management and requested they notify other employees immediately of their exposure risk.


Deadly gamble: North Dakota contractor supervised workers in unprotected trenches, failed 3 inspections in 32 days, ignored warnings, faces $505K in fines

News Release: MANDAN, ND ‒ Twice in 2022, the owner of a Mandan excavation company sat behind the controls of an excavator, supervising employees below as they installed municipal water lines in trenches as deep as 10 feet without protection against deadly collapses, federal workplace safety inspectors found. In 2022, trench collapses killed 39 workers, as thousands of pounds of soil and rocks crush or smother people in seconds.



Appleton roofing general contractor, Kaukauna subcontractor cited for repeatedly failing to protect employees from exposure to deadly fall hazards

News Release: APPLETON, WI - Federal workplace safety inspectors have found that Security-Luebke Roofing Inc. - one of Fox Valley's largest roofing general contractors - allowed a roofing subcontractor to expose workers to potentially deadly falls at an Appleton worksite, just two months after the general contractor discussed the importance of safe work practices with the U.S. Department of Labor.


US Department of Labor announces $5M cooperative agreement to promote worker voice, labor rights in Brazil, Paraguay

News Release: WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $5 million cooperative agreement to the International Labor Organization to strengthen the capacity of worker and civil society organizations in Brazil and Paraguay to increase worker voice and representation and address abusive labor practices, including forced labor and child labor.


Readout: US Department of Labor hosts Summit for Democracy highlighting the importance of unions in upholding democratic rights

News Release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Labor Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs Thea Lee hosted representatives from the U.S. Department of State and worker organization leaders today for the discussion, “No Democracy Without Unions: Labor Movements as Defenders of Democratic Rights." This ...


Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development to Hold Hearing on “Diversity of Thought: Protecting Free Speech on College Campuses”

News Release: Tomorrow, March 29, at 10:15 a.m., the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, Chaired by Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), will hold a hearing titled “Diversity of Thought: Protecting Free Speech on College Campuses."


Un tribunal aprueba un fallo por consentimiento que obliga a unos restaurantes a pagar $911,000 en salarios atrasados y daños y perjuicios a 99 trabajadores mal pagos en Massachusetts y Nuevo Hampshire

News Release: CONCORD, NH - Un tribunal federal ha aprobado un fallo por consentimiento que obliga al propietario y operador de tres restaurantes en Nuevo Hampshire y Massachusetts, con sede principal en Concord, Nuevo Hampshire a pagar $911,568 en salarios atrasados y daños y perjuicios a 99 empleados tras una investigación del Departamento de Trabajo de EE. UU. sobre sus prácticas de pago.


US Department of Labor, industry leaders focus on small steps for big safety impact during 2023 Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week, March 27-31

News Release: WASHINGTON ‒ Once inside a grain storage bin, a worker can find themselves engulfed or trapped by flowing grain in just seconds. In 2021, 38 percent of reported grain engulfments turned deadly because required safeguards were not followed.


Chair Foxx Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing on America’s Workforce

News Release: Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) delivered the following statement, as prepared for delivery, at a hearing on how the Biden administration's heavy-handed mandates and out-of-touch regulatory policies are hurting America’s workforce...


Deadly gamble: North Dakota contractor supervised workers in unprotected trenches, failed 3 inspections in 32 days, ignored warnings, faces $505K in fines

News Release: MANDAN, ND ‒ Twice in 2022, the owner of a Mandan excavation company sat behind the controls of an excavator, supervising employees below as they installed municipal water lines in trenches as deep as 10 feet without protection against deadly collapses, federal workplace safety inspectors found. In 2022, trench collapses killed 39 workers, as thousands of pounds of soil and rocks crush or smother people in seconds.


Court enters consent order requiring restaurants to pay $911K in back wages, damages to 99 underpaid workers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire

News Release: CONCORD, NH - A federal court has entered a consent order requiring the Concord-based owner and operator of three restaurants in New Hampshire and Massachusetts to pay $911,568 in back wages and liquidated damages to 99 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation into their pay practices.


Appleton roofing general contractor, Kaukauna subcontractor cited for repeatedly failing to protect employees from exposure to deadly fall hazards

News Release: APPLETON, WI - Federal workplace safety inspectors have found that Security-Luebke Roofing Inc. - one of Fox Valley’s largest roofing general contractors - allowed a roofing subcontractor to expose workers to potentially deadly falls at an Appleton worksite, just two months after the general contractor discussed the importance of safe work practices with the U.S. Department of Labor.


US Department of Labor finds Salt Lake City restaurant supply company illegally employed 22 minor-aged workers beyond hours allowed

News Release: SALT LAKE CITY - A federal investigation has found a Salt Lake City restaurant supply company allowed 22 employees - ages 14 and 15 - to work as many as 46 hours per workweek, and to begin work after midnight - both illegal practices under child labor laws.